What happened on September 11 wasn't the first act of war, it was the most unspeakable act of murder and terrorism. But it was construed by a very small group of people - there is no army out there in the dark waiting to take over America. It's like being stung by a bee and going out and smashing up a beehive, and thinking you've solved the problem. There are more beehives out there; more bees will come. But they're bees. They're not grizzly bears.

Even with politics, stuff comes around again. Woody Guthrie would recognize America today.

If you've got a blacklist, I want to be on it.

I'm just saying that we need to find a better way to manifest the broader society's aspirations, politically. The key to it has to be some sort of proportional representation, which allows there to be more parties.

So, in some ways, the political songs tend to be a bit more like reportage, whereas the love songs tend to be like novels, you can pick them up off the shelf and go into them any time.

I never met a politician who didn't want to be a guitar player in a rock band. I've got the opportunity to say what I believe in.

That's what I'm about -- getting engaged. Too many people don't wade in the mud with the politicians.